In the end, whatever his story was, whatever the speedbumps on his journey, Penning needed to produce this year. That was the bottom line. If he didn't produce then he was going to be replaced, more than likely by someone with lesser physical gifts. He needed to produce for his career and he needed to produce for us to have a chance to be good.
He has produced.
I still don't feel he's someone you want to leave on an island for 20 reps a game (yet) but with this scheme, and because Fuaga is legit, that's ok. As long as we can run the ball effectively we can mitigate his current weaknesses and, with time, he can hopefully polish up his pass pro technique to the point where you can leave him on an island more often and not worry too much about it (like Fuaga).
I'm just so glad he's showing out because we really, really needed him to be capable. And he's been more than capable, particularly in the run game - and for us, the run game has to work because our offense is based on it. Having played this same scheme in College (from Mike Shanahan's college roommate as OC), it's a wonderful symbiosis where the scheme allows you to run effectively, and because you can run effectively, pass pro is easier. It made our (frankly, sub-average) college OL with questionable talents, into a really effective unit.